§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received to amend the Equal Pay Act 1970 to allow for an extension of the time limit beyond six months from termination of employment for bringing an equal value pay claim before an employment tribunal. [15072]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 19 November 2001]: Under the Equal Pay Act 1970 a woman (or man) may bring a claim within six months of the time when she (or he) was last employed in that job for equal work, that is: or like work, work rated as equivalent, or work which is unlike but which the claimant believes is of equal value. Reference was made to time limits which apply in equal pay cases in the "Review of Women's Employment and Pay" published on 5 December by Denise Kingsmill CBE. That review made proposals to deliver improvements to women's employment prospects and reduce the pay gap between women and men. However, there was no formal recommendation made on tribunal time limits. The Government have received no other recent representations.